Hoisting apparatus



Sept. 18 1923. 1,468,482

A. D. LIGHTNER ET AL HOISTING APPARATUS Filed an 18, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 N V EN TOR 5 flrf/wr 0. ugh/her fawara lie/mes 11 TTORNEY Sept. 18,1923. 1,468,482

A. D. LIGHTNER ET AL HOISTING APPARATUS Filed Jam. 18, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ari-bur D. 1/9/77/76/ [dwara lie/mes I v I v B) a I I 1 I 1 v ATTORNEY Sept. 18,1923. 1,468,482

A. D. LIGHTNER ET AL HOISTI NG APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet.3

"Ill

3?: man. 92, 22; 5a a aim e1 Sept. 18,1923. 1,4 2

A. D. LIGHTNER ET AL HOISTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 N i v 2 a 2 INVENTORS Arthur 0. dig/finer Q fer ward //0/mes BY I 1 WE) Patented Sept. 18, 1923.

, UNITED STATES 1,468,482 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR D. LIGHTNER AND EDWARD HOLMES, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORSTO THE WILLYS-OVERLAND COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

HoIs'rIivG APPARATUS.

Application filed January 18, 1919. Serial No. 271,835.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR D. LIGHT- NER and EDWARD HOLMES, citizens of the United States, residing at Toledo, county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and-useful Improvements in Hoisting Apparatus, of which we declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description. r

This invention relates to improvements in hoisting apparatus, and more particularly hoisting apparatus for use in connection with the loading and double-decking of automobiles in freight cars. Although the device is particularly designed for use in connection with motor vehicles, yet it is to be understood-that it may be used for other purposes for which it is found to be adapted.

One object of this invention is to provide asimple and economical form of equalizing means, which is automatic in its operation and eflicient in operation for maintaining a hoisting platform in horizontal position at all times while in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide fluid operated hoistingand equaliz mg means which will be of simple construction and efiicient in operation.v

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for controlling at all times the various parts of the lifting platform and maintaining the same in a proper horizontal position.

Further objects of this invention relate to economies of manufacture and details of construction, as will hereinafter appear from the detailed description to follow.

WVe accomplish theobjects of our invention in one instance by the devices and means described in the following specification, but it is evident that the same may be varied widely without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

A structure constituting one embodiment of our invention, which may be the preferred, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which: 7

Figure I is a top plan view of the improved hoisting apparatus.

Figure II is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure I.

Figure III is a detail, diagrammatic view showing the manner of attaching the ends of the cable to the movable frame and to the stationary frame portions, and the relative positions of the pulleys.

Figure IV. is aside elevation of the structure shown in Figure I, illustrating the position of the automobile wheels relative thereto, when an automobile is supported upon the hoisting frame.

Figure V is a detail horizontal plan view showing the manner of positioning the in ner pulleys with respect to that portion of the stationary frame to which they are attfpghed, taken on the line VV of Figure Figure VI is a vertical sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure IV.

Figure VII is a vertical sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Figure I.

Figure VIII is a vertical sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure I.

Figure IX is a vertical sectional view taken along the line IXIX of Figure I...

Figure X is a plan view of the pipe f r conducting fluid to the various cylinders.

In the drawing, similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts through-' automobile which has been run thereon.

hen the automobile has been lifted a substantial distance above the loading platform, a loading truck may be run'beneath it and the rails lowered to allow the autodrawing, a plurality of fluid pressure cylinders 10, preferably four in number, are secured in position upon a foundation, and are each provided with a piston 12, carrying upon one end a piston head 13 fitting closely within the interior of the cylinder. 'ihe main Puid apply pipe 1 1; provided with a plurality ot branches 1?) communic ting" with each of the above mentioned cylir... del v h an opening 16 formed the lo .4 or head 1? of each cylinder. E he cylinders above described is provided with an upper cylinder head 18 containing: an opening therein'tor the recepion oi tlu ;on red lhe above decyiindei of? which there maybe 1 for each corner the movable frame,

is: est noon the toundation, and have firmly so to their upu r ends a' stationary 1 designa e; ally by the numerai and which comprises a pair of longiturncmb o ch otf which is secured onpol i r re u 19, din:

nieinoer 520 at points horn-zontal "frame me hereinafter.

A pair wardly wardly etttcnd tiai're each end by pins to the I are upper L 2, en l'Cru e ed on one side of the chine tor pivo ion c 1r 11 '1 z n1 -l .raritv o't o'uen as 30. 'n the base p0 [ion tlierei': .ror the rec V n of pins 31 carried block 32. 1 1e said blocks are "formed such a manner to tit iithin the upward y extending flanges of he rails so that the pins 'arried by each block may be once any one or the openings 30. .r'ls siown Figure 1V, the purpose of thee-e blocks is to hold the wheel" of the automobile in such a position as to prevent inoveme. of the automobile when in position upon the rails.

Each of the rails also'provided at a point near one end with. vair of slots 33 formed in the upward 26 proyiding means of curing' the portions wardly extending .y' extending-- flanges attachment for seof a strap to the upfiang'es; whereby the straps may be passed over the rims of the ably positioneu dinal members Qiland a sponding manower end an enfesponding men1- upward movetlu'd operated cylinder to provided with upper and lower cyhnder heads 41 and42 es l5. piston rod carrles a plate 47 firmly secured thereto, and provided with down turned portions 4L8 connected by a pin 4:9; and a multi ple grooved pulley 50 is mounted to freely rotate on the pin to. i V r Secured to each the longitudinally e2:-

' 1: near the'en'ds thereoi is a X :ablesfiil;eachofwhich attached to a rail by being Connected to' a pin passingthrough the down-turned flanges oi} the rails. A pair of longitudinal base frame members extend between the iier' lower the side cylindersupon e r. andar i in suitable ma -ner to the foundation.

Upwardly converging braces 69 may be ernployed for connecting the lone'itudinal base frame members 5% to the upper horizontal frame members 20 to give greater rigidity to the structure. 'ltiounted upon each of the longitudinally ex. ding base frame member; :74: st'pc ii near the-ends thereof. are brackets Eachof the brackets carries a pin 56 upon which s'rotatably mounted a pulicy 5' Brackets 58. one for each cable to be used, a e mounted upon the lower face the platform 2% and secured to the platform in any suitable nianner as by bolts or rivets 59. {Each of the brackets 58 carries a sheave or pull ein a pin 1 nd j? 1 control cyli r f ot which there is ably employed one '1' or each corner the (lCYlCiT'. i. cured to the end oi? each. i OI1 .ll(llTl2Lll"V extending rail and passes downwar lly and under c "e o re pul 5?, one o? said pulleys being secured to one of the lower base frame members 54;, at each corner of the device then upwardly and'oyer corresponding pulley 60 mounted. upon the lower face of tire plattorm 24, then downwardly and r *oox mlley which is tea-ably provided with the same number of grooves o strike against a truck.

upon its surface as there are cables used, and from this pulley each cable passes upwardly and is attached to one of the e} -boits 63 secured to the platform 24. One end of each cable is attached at each corner of the rmztangular shaped movable frame. which comprises the flanged rails 25, and passes in a diagonal direction toward the center of the frame, over the pulleys 57 and 60, where each of the cables passes over the common pulley 50, thence upward for attachment to a fixed portion of the frame and thus equalizing means is provided which insures that all portions of the frame will travel at the same rate of speed in moving upwardly or downwardly. The upper cylinder head of the central cylinder 40 is provided with an opening for the reception of a branch portion 67 of the fluid supply pipe which supplies fluid pressure to the main lifting cylinders 10 of the device.

Thus when pressure is applied to the main pressure cylinders 10, such pressure is applied to the central cylinder 40 to hold the grooved pulley 5O firmly against the various cables for the purpose of exerting sufficient tension upon the cables to equalize the movement of the frame. Since the cables are of equal length, when it is desired to maintain the movable platform in a horizontal position during its raising and lowering movement, any tendency for one end of the movable platform to advance faster than the other will tend to'raise the central piston, whereupon less tension will be exerted upon the cables connected to the other end of the frame and consequently the resistance acting against upward movement of the other end of the movable frame will be diminished. It will be noted that the area of the piston head in the central cylinder 40 is considerably lessthan the area of either of the piston heads in the lower upright cylinders 10 and the counter-acting pressure exerted by the cylinder 40 is evenly distributed between the cylinders at the. corners of the device, thus the counteracting pressure exerted by the central cylinder does not materially affect the lifting force exerted by the upright corner cylinders.

\Vhilo it is understood that this particular embodiment of hoisting apparatus may be applied to a variety of different uses, it has been found to be particularly adapted for use upon a dock where it is desirable to raise an automobile to elevated position'for the purpose of placing it upon the elevated frame of Devices providing no means for equalizing the movement of the platform are found to be objectionable for the purpose since it is diflicult to so position an automobile upon the movable frame as to evenly distribute the weight of the automobile. It has been found that a tendency exist for one end of the movable frame to travel more the other with a consequent e parts of tie hoist becoming lo the automobile is dangerously mo ed upwardly. This is parn the rails are in a position shown in Figures II and 1V of the drawing. The rails 25 are spacer a sufli ient distance apart to correspond with the tread of an ordinary automobi e whereby the automobile may be read' pushed upon the rails s0 that it occupies a position thereon as indicated in Figure IV of the drawing. When the automobile has been placed in position upon the rails, the blocls 32 and the straps Bet are placed position relative to the wheels for the purpose of firmly securing the automobile movement relative to the rails while it is being elevated. A fluid under pressure, such as compressed air, is then admitted through the main fluid supply pipe 14: and the branch pipes 15 into the corner upright cylinders against the piston heads carried therein. By reason of the fact that the main fluid supply pipe 14 communicates fre ly with the various branches 1.5, the pressure is communicatedequally to each of the four upright corner cylinders and against the lower faces of the piston heads canyied therein.

Simultaneously with the admission of fluid pressure to the four corner cylinders, pressure will also be admitted to the central cylinder through the branch pipe 67, communicati lg therewith. The degree of fluid pressure exerted upon the central cylinder is capable of control by means of the valve 70 located in the branch pipe 6'? so that the downward pressure exerted upon the upper face of the central piston head be increased or diminished as desired. In any event the amount of pressure exerted upon the central piston head 414C will be equally distributed among the four corners of the movable platform, so long as the platform continues to maintain itself in a horizontal pla e while it is being raised. If, however, one end of the platform by reason of an tal distribution of weight thereon bepressure upon the top of the cylinder or piston head 44. This naturally causes a corresponding loosening of the cables attached to the other end of the movable frame, and consequently, less resistance to the upward movement of that end of the frame, until a point of equilibrium is reached to put the frame in a substantially horizontal position. 7

When the automobile has been rzfsed suificient distance. a truck provid d with an elevated frame n 1 oc placed beneath the automobile, the air pr ssure upon the lower faces of the piston heads 13 may be reduced to permit the automobile to be lowered from the truck in such a manner that the front and rear axles will be supported thereby, and the automobile can be transported thereon to any desired point. t will be seen that in loweringthe automobile upon the truck, the equalizing mechanism will be flange portion of the rails 25? aniprovided with enlarged members 38 at their lower end are adapted to prevent raising l yond a predetermined point w .en pressure is exerted upon the pistons.

While the equalizing mechanism is de signed primarily for the purpose of main taining the movable platform in a horizontal position at all times, it is obvious that it he frame bemay be used, if desired, for the purpose of maintaining the platfori at a given angle to the horizontal during its raising and lO\ ering movements. By providing cables extending to one end of the movable plat form of less length than the cables extending to the other end of the movable platform, the platform may be tilted in such a manner as to form a slight angle with the horizontal end to be maintained during its raising and lowering movement in planes parallel with the plane in which it was riu'inally arranged.

By the use of the structure described the movable frame is maintained in a horizontal plane at all times or in other words in a plane parallel to a given horizontal plane at all times while it isbeing raised and lowered. If it is desired to use this device with the frame tilted at a slightangle to the hori-' substantially pa 'allel to a given plane. By reason of there being a cableiattached to a part ofthe movabl frame at each corner of the apparatus the mechanism is not only effective to control the movement of opposite ends of the frame and equalize the same, but also in like manner toequalize the movement of that portion of i e frame at each corner thereof. If one corner of the frame starts to move upwardly faster than the others the cable connected thereto will operate in the manner previously described to urge the central piston upwardly and thus by lessening the tension upon the other cables will permit the other corners to move upwardly more freely.

Vi e have shown and described in considerable detail a specific embodimentof our invention, and it is to be understood that this showing and description is illustrative only and for the purpose of rendering our invention more clear, and that we do not regard the invention as limited to the details of construction illustrated or described, nor

of them, except insofar as we have included such limitations within the terms of the following claims, in which it is our intention to claim all novelty inherent in our invention broadly, as well as specifically.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by v Patent, is:

n an apparatus of the class described in combination, a stationary frame portion, a movab e frame portion, means for transmitting movement to the movable frame portion, means for equalizing the movement of the movable frame, and common means for controlling movement of the equalizing means.

2. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a vertically movable frame, means for imparting movement to the frame, and fluid controlled n'ieansfor maintaining the frame in a plane substantially parallel to a given plane during its period of movement. 7

3 In an apparatus of the class described combination, a vertically movable frame, means for imparting movementto the frame, at a plurality of points, and means radiating from a common point for equalizing the amount of movement of the frame at the several points l. In a device of the class described in combination, a. movable frame, means for raising and lowering the frame, and fluid controlled means for maintaining the frame substantially horizontal while it is being raised and lowered 5. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, means for imparting vertical movement to the frame, and means inc uding a system of cables and pul eys radi -g from. a point adjacent the center of the frame for maintaining the frame substantially horizontal during its period of movement. 7

6. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, means for raising and lowering the frame, and fluid controlled means for maintaining the frame substantially horizontal while .it is being raised and lowered.

7. In an apparatus of the described in combination, a movable frame, meansfor raising and lowering the frame, and pneumatic means for maintaining the frame substantially'horizontal while it is being raised and lowered.

8. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, fluid operated means for raising and lowering the frame, means including a system of cables and pulleys for maintaining the frame substantially horizontal during its period of movement, and means for equalizing the tension upon the several cables.

9. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, pneumatic operating means for raising the frame, and

means including a system of cables and pulleys radially positioned relative to a common point for maintaining the frame substantially horizontal while in raised position.

10. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, fluid operated means for raising the frame, and fluid controlled means for maintaining the frame substantially horizontal during its period of movement.

11. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, means for raising and lowering the frame, and pneumatically operated controlling means for maintaining the frame substantially llOIlzontal while it is being raised and lowered.

12. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a vertically movable frame, pneumatically operated means for imparting movement to the frame, and pneumatically. operated controllingmeans for maintaining the frame in a plane substantially parallel to a given plane during its period of movement.

13. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, means for imparting movement to the frame com-.

prising a plurality'of pneumatically operated pistons; and means for maintaining the frame in a plane substantially parallel to a given plane during its period of move ment, comprising a pneumatically operated piston.

14. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, means for imparting movement to the frame comprising a plurality of pneumatically operated pistons, means for maintaining the frame substantially horizontal during its period of movement comprising a pneumatically operated piston, a pulley carried by said piston, and a plurality of cables co-operating with said pulley.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a movable frame, means for imparting movement to the frame comprising a plurality of pneumatically operated pistons, means for maintaining the frame substantially horizontal during its period of movement, comprising a pneumatically operated piston, and a plurality of cables co-operating with said pistons.

16. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, means f r imparting movement to the frame, and means for constantly maintaining the frame in a plane substantially parallel to a given plane during its period of movement, comprising a pneumatically operated piston, and a plurality of cables co-operating with said piston.

17. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, means for imparting movement to the frame, and means for constantly maintaining the frame in a plane substantially parallel to a given plane during its period of movement, comprising a fluid operated piston, a pulley carried by said piston, and a plurality of cables co-operating with said pulley.

18. In an apparatus of the class described in combination, a movable frame, means for imparting movement to the frame, and means for'constantly maintaining the fr me in a plane substantially parallel to a given plane during its period of movement, comprising a fluid operated piston, a pulley carried by said piston, and a plurality of cables, each having its ends attached to the movable frame and to the stationary frame and co-operating with said pulley.

19. In an apparatus of the class described, a movable frame, fluid operated means for raising and lowering said frame, and fluid controlled equalizing means for equalizing the movement of said movable frame.

20. In an apparatus of the class described, a movable frame, separate means operable in unison for raising and lowering said frame, and equalizing members controlled from a common point for equalizing the frame which may have the lighter loadv faster than the remaining portion, cables connected with the frame at points remote from each other and having their opposite ends anchored upon said base and means for exerting pressure upon all of the cables when the load is evenly distributed upon the frame and only upon certain of the cables when the load is unevenly distributed.

22. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base, a load carrying t'rame mounted to move upon the base, means for effecting bodily movement of the rrame, said means tending to move that portion of the frame which may have the lighter load faster than the remaining portion, cables connected With the frame at points remote from each other and having their opposite ends anchored upon said base and fluid controlled means for exerting pressure upon all of the cables when the load is evenly distributed upon the frame and only upon certain of the cables When the load is unevenly distributed.

In testimony whereof, we afiiX our signa-' L L-UIBS- V 1 iETHUR D. LIGHTUER. 'EDNARD HOLMES. 

